Marko Ciciliani (*1970, Zagreb) is a composer, audiovisual artist and performer based in Austria. The focus of his work lies in the composition of performative electronic music, mostly in audiovisual contexts. Interactive video, light design and laser graphics often play an integral part in his compositions  In the field of artistic research, Ciciliani has published several papers and articles, mainly in the field of audiovisual composition, a practice, that he termed “Music in the Expanded Field” in his widely discussed lecture of the same title, he gave in Darmstadt in 2016.  Ciciliani is Professor for Computer Music Composition and Sound Design at the Institute for Electronic Music and Acoustics (IEM) of the University of Music and Performing Arts Graz. In 2014, 16 and 18 he has taught as tutor at the “Summer Courses for Contemporary Music Darmstadt”. As of 2020 he is artistic director of the interdisciplinary workshop for young creators ChampdAction.LAbO, as well as of the festival TimeCanvas@DeSingel in Antwerp.

WHY FRETS? applies a post-colonialist and techno-feminist free-fantasy reading of the history of the electric guitar, an that has been charged with symbolisms of masculinity, manhood and sexuality like almost no other Western instrument. This "history" is presented through a variety of media in the form of transmedia storytelling. Live events relate to other manifestations of the project such as specially designed interactive websites (net-art), and installations of guitar sculptures. The project thus extends beyond a singular event, which enables the audience to piece together different aspects of the narrated history by visiting and experiencing the various manifestations of the work, thereby completing different facets of the counterfactual history to an individually constructed coherent narrative.

"Why Frets? – Requiem for the Electric Guitar" (2020-21, duration 30-40 minutes)

a performance-lecture for a reciting guitarist and fretless electric guitar

Music and visuals: Marko Ciciliani

Original Story: Marko Ciciliani

Writers: Marko Ciciliani & Nicolas Trépanier

"Why Frets? – Downtown 1983" (2021, duration: 25 minutes)

for three musicians, electric guitars, modular electronics and video

Music and visuals: Marko Ciciliani

"Why Frets? – Tombstone" (2021-22, permanent installation)

installation of interwoven guitars

With the support of Bundesministerium Kunst, Kultur, öffentlicher Dienst und Sport, Land Steiermark and SKE Fond.

http://www.ciciliani.com/why-frets.html

Nico Couck -BE-

Nele De Gussem -BE-

Alejandro Tentor -ES-